Proposals set out in the draft Animal Health Bill include:
• A new, independent body with responsibility for all animal health policy and delivery in England
• A statutory role for the UK chief veterinary officer, based at DEFRA
• The new body will be a non-departmental public body, funded by DEFRA and taking over DEFRA's current funding for animal health
• Disease control policies will be strengthened and it will be possible to tailor payment schemes to support them
• Cost sharing measures will be taken forward through a future Finance Bill
• Animal health policy and delivery decisions will be the responsibility of an independent board of experts, with knowledge of animal health
• Key decisions during a disease outbreak will be made by the chair and chief executive of the new body, on the advice of the chief veterinary officer for England
• Decisions will be reached through open and transparent processes, on the basis of sound evidence
• Co-ordination of disease control across the UK and international representation will be overseen by a chief veterinary officer for the UK.